Sant'Antioco
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By Dion Protani
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Latest page update: 25 February 2025
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Although Sant'Antioco is most certainly an island, the first quirk about it is that you can drive directly there by car. Knowing that one day we'd like to get here easily from the airport, the Carthaginians developed a causeway across a three kilometre isthmus and then the Romans built a bridge connecting the Sardinian mainland to the island.
You'll no doubt feel comforted to know the Roman bridge is not the one currently used by cars but you can still see the remnants of the old as you cross the new. |
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The main town
Crossing the bridge you may spot some flamingos in the distance before you arrive at the main residential area on the island: Sant'Antioco Town, which is where most of the island's fourteen thousand or so inhabitants live. The town is pleasant enough; it has a port and a bustling town centre with bars and restaurants but the main attraction of the island is its beaches where you'll find crystal clear water and soft sand.
Being the largest island in Sardinia with a size of 115 km², Sant'Antioco is best explored by car. Depending on which route you take, it takes around an hour and 20 minutes to complete a full circuit and heading north along the coast road for 20 minutes you'll reach the island's second town: Calasetta.
Being the largest island in Sardinia with a size of 115 km², Sant'Antioco is best explored by car. Depending on which route you take, it takes around an hour and 20 minutes to complete a full circuit and heading north along the coast road for 20 minutes you'll reach the island's second town: Calasetta.
Calasetta
Calasetta is home to a number of beautiful beaches; Spiaggia La Salina and Spiaggia Grande are flanked by sand dunes with paths that you can enjoy walks along, while the main beach in the town centre is called Spiaggia di Sottotorre.
Aside from its beaches, Calasetta has an attractive town centre with a pretty church and town hall among its highlights. There's also a practical reason to visit as from here you can take a ferry across to the second main island in the Sulcis Peninsula; San Pietro Island, which takes around half an hour.
Twenty five minutes south of Calasetta is the beach resort of Cala Sapone with its dramatic shades of bright blue water while continuing in an anti-clockwise direction you'll find another of the island's best beaches: Spiaggia di Coaquaddus.
Aside from its beaches, Calasetta has an attractive town centre with a pretty church and town hall among its highlights. There's also a practical reason to visit as from here you can take a ferry across to the second main island in the Sulcis Peninsula; San Pietro Island, which takes around half an hour.
Twenty five minutes south of Calasetta is the beach resort of Cala Sapone with its dramatic shades of bright blue water while continuing in an anti-clockwise direction you'll find another of the island's best beaches: Spiaggia di Coaquaddus.
Isola di Sant'Antioco
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Province: South Sardinia
Region: Sardinia Population: 13,969 Size: 115 km² Highlights: Sant'Antioco Town, Cala Sapone, Coaquaddus Water quality: Blue Flag Beach 2021 - 2022 By train: nearest station - Carbonia (17 km) By bus: Carbonia - 45 mins/20 stops By car: Cagliari - 1 hr 20 m/85 km, Oristano - 1 hr 45 m /134 km Fly to: Cagliari Elmas Airport - 2 hrs by bus/train, 1 hr 13 m by car Recommended accommodation: Hotel Le Sabbie |
